Part 4: Using your percentages in part 3, create a graph representing the time spent in each cell cycle stage.
Insert chart [Hint: Don't forget to consider the relationship between your data and the type of chart to represent your data best.]
Answer (1)
Calculate the sum of the given percentages: 16 + 6 + 4 + 4 + 2 = 32 .
Normalize each percentage by dividing it by the sum and multiplying by 100.
The normalized percentages are: Prophase: 50% , Metaphase: 18.75% , Anaphase: 12.5% , Telophase: 12.5% , Cytokinesis: 6.25% .
Represent these percentages in a pie chart or bar graph to visualize the time spent in each cell cycle stage. The normalized percentages are: P ro p ha se : 50% , M e t a p ha se : 18.75% , A na p ha se : 12.5% , T e l o p ha se : 12.5% , C y t o kin es i s : 6.25% .
Explanation
Understand the problem and provided data We are given the time spent in each cell cycle stage: Prophase (8, 16%), Metaphase (3, 6%), Anaphase (2, 4%), Telophase (2, 4%), and Cytokinesis (1, 2%). The percentages represent the proportion of time spent in each stage relative to the total cell cycle time. Our goal is to create a graph representing the time spent in each cell cycle stage using the given percentages.
Verify and normalize percentages First, we need to verify that the percentages add up to 100%. If they don't, we need to normalize them. Let's add the percentages: 16 + 6 + 4 + 4 + 2 = 32 . Since the percentages do not add up to 100%, we need to normalize them.
Calculate normalized percentages To normalize the percentages, we divide each percentage by the sum (32) and multiply by 100. The normalized percentages are:
Prophase: 32 16 × 100 = 50%
Metaphase: 32 6 × 100 = 18.75%
Anaphase: 32 4 × 100 = 12.5%
Telophase: 32 4 × 100 = 12.5%
Cytokinesis: 32 2 × 100 = 6.25%
Choose a graph type Now that we have the normalized percentages, we can create a graph. A pie chart or a bar graph would be suitable for showing the proportion of time spent in each stage. In a pie chart, each slice will represent a cell cycle stage, and the size of the slice will correspond to the percentage of time spent in that stage. In a bar graph, the x-axis will represent the cell cycle stages, and the y-axis will represent the percentage of time spent in each stage. The height of each bar will correspond to the percentage.
State the normalized percentages The normalized percentages are:
Prophase: 50%
Metaphase: 18.75%
Anaphase: 12.5%
Telophase: 12.5%
Cytokinesis: 6.25%
Examples
Understanding the proportion of time spent in each phase of the cell cycle is crucial in cancer research. For example, if a cancer drug targets cells in a specific phase, knowing the percentage of time cells spend in that phase helps predict the drug's effectiveness. This also helps in optimizing treatment schedules to maximize the drug's impact on cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy cells.
